Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower middle market, today announced its acquisition of PlayCore, the leading North American designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of play, park and recreation products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, PlayCore designs and builds a wide spectrum of commercial playground, park, recreation, performance and specialty equipment ranging from basic, modular play structures to complex, theme-based play environments that require significant creative and engineering competencies. PlayCore also provides a broad array of site amenities, surfacing, seating, performance and fitness solutions, including picnic tables, benches, bleachers, bike racks and outdoor fitness stations. Widely recognized as the industry thought leader, PlayCore also offers highly differentiated value-added services such as designing curriculum-based education programs for playgrounds and parks, and helps customers access funding sources.
PlayCore’s President and CEO, Bob Farnsworth commented, “We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we take PlayCore to its next stage of growth. Sentinel has a reputation as a value added partner, and we look forward to working with Sentinel at a time when our industry is poised for growth.”
“PlayCore is an innovative leader and possesses a strong portfolio of leading brands in the playground and recreation market,” said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. “We are very excited to partner with PlayCore’s talented management team and support the continued growth of this great business.”
Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty industrial businesses. Prior investments include: Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment), Chase Doors (specialty doors), Chromalox (precision heating technology), Colson (casters and wheels), Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators, valves), Fasloc (underground mine roof support systems), IEP Technologies (industrial explosion protection), and LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems).

About Sentinel Capital Partners
Sentinel Capital Partners specializes in buying and building lower middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets aerospace and defense, business services, consumer, distribution, food and restaurants, franchising, healthcare, and industrial businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, and going-private transactions of established businesses with EBITDA of up to $50 million. Sentinel also invests in special situations, including balance sheet restructurings, and operational turnarounds. For more information about Sentinel, visit www.sentinelpartners.com.

About PlayCore
PlayCore is one of the leading playground equipment and recreation products companies in the world, specializing in the design, manufacture, and marketing of commercial playground, park, recreation, performance and specialty equipment. PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, education, and partnerships. The Company infuses this learning into its complete family of brands. PlayCore combines best-in-class planning and education programs with the most comprehensive array of recreation products available to create play solutions that match the unique needs of the each community they serve. Learn more at www.playcore.com.

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